I just purchased my first MOPAR, a 69 Barracuda convertible 318/torqueflite. It has a 4bbl carb on a stock manifold that, according to the casting #, is from a 71 340. Carb is a 1406 Edelbrock. #2 cyl

 

Compression is good?

 

if your manifold is a spreed bore and your carb is square bore, you need a steel plate with a spcl gasket that edelbrock makes. a square bore carb will NOT seal on spreed bore manifold with out the spcl steel plate AND spcl gasket. this could be causing the lean chamber. this one of few things they do right. better yet use a1968 manifold.

 

Compression is good on all cylinders including the flat #2. I am using the Edelbrock adapter for spread bore manifolds to the Edelbrock 1406 carb. On small block chevys I learned to toss the manifold rubber end gaskets and use Permatex black RTV instead (fewer problems with oil leaks). Does that work for the small block mopar as well?


Bud

 

Yes you can use Form a gasket ? or your preference to replace the end seals. Don't over do it...

 

I would use the cork gaskets and contact glue them to the block..And put a bead of sealer in the corners of the intake end gaskets...The gap on mopars is wider then on a chevrolet an may blow out if not done right..Plus it looks messy.. If you do decide to use ultra sealer use the gray it is for intakes

 

IN some situations where the heads/ manifold have been surfaced THE cork gasket will not fit. I do not like the grey foam gasket.. So some type of form a gasket is needed

 

Ok....Soooo
I'm Going to assume that the tune up is good....
And that the cam and valve train is in good order....
And that the other plugs are Brown...
And that the #2 is the only plug that is white and ashy... Remember, we are say the tune up is in good order or done.
Am I Rite So far?

 

The sealer I am refering to is ultra grey it is made for intakes and is the same as ultra black but just look nicer and is for aluminum...Bill

 

 

I changed the intake manifold gasket due to suspicion of a leak. No obvious signs of a leak on the manifold or head but it runs a little better now. Miss has become intermittent. Yeah, the #2 plug is lighter than the others and my point&shoot thermometer says the # 2 is running about 100 deg. cooler than most of the other cyls. at idle. The #8 cyl. is also a little cool but it seems to be producing power (no miss).


Ignition:
The car has a mopar breakerless ignition system on it. Looks like a factory type system but my 69 maint. manual doesn't address it. Maybe from a later model? The initial timing is set a 10 deg BTDC and the motor seems happy with that even though the book calls for TDC. The vacuum advance is connected to the ported side of the Edelbrock 1406 and I'm showing 0 vacuum advance at idle but the book calls for (I think) about 10 deg. vacuum advance at 15" man. vacuum. (Idle vacuum is about 18"). The spark plugs are Bosch platinum.


The motor runs good except for the miss a idle and light throttle. Since I have already swapped plug wires around with no change in the symptoms I'm thinking about throwing a dist. cap at it just for the hell of it. Maybe that's the answer, I need an exorcist.


Any help is appreciated
Bud

 

Rich'en up the idle air about 1 turn.... If that dont fix it I would try some non platinum plugs...
1,7,2,8 have been known to be the leaner cylinders.
If it runs good off idle i would go with a lean miss...
Sounds like it just has a lean miss to it.

Just my 2 cents

 

Went back to the manual to double check ignition timing specs. Funny, the manual lists different initial timing depending on the year (I guess it partially depends on whether or not it is a "smogger". Kind of by consensus between the Mopar manual and my 1974 Motor Manual I set the timing at TDC and moved distributor vac. signal from ported to man. vac. port on the carb. That gives me +- 13 deg. initial with the vacuum hooked up. It runs better now but still an intermittent miss at idle and light throttle. Think I'll try a set of Champion N14Y plugs and see what happens. The Bosch plugs are kind of funny looking anyway. If I throw enough parts at it (how bout a 340 crate motor?) maybe I'll find the gremlin. Guess I'll visit the drivetrain forum to ask about an upshift/downshift issue.

Thanks
Bud